MTK
08-03-2005, 02:13 PM
http://fredericksburg.com/News/Web/2005/082005/blogday2
12:46 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3
ASHBURN--After Day 1 of Washington Redskins training camp, I wrote that the players and fans and media members were lucky that the weather was bearable. Scratch that. Day 2 was hot. By the time practice ended yesterday evening, most of the onlookers looked like they’d been pelted with water balloons. Anyway, here are a few tidbits and random thoughts I thought you might like to know about your ‘Skins:
--Running backs coach Ernest Byner just can’t make quick cuts like he did in his glory days in the burgundy and gold. Yesterday Byner was leading his group in a short jog toward a separate practice field when he nearly bulldozed an unknowing ballboy.
“My bad! My bad! My bad!” Byner yelled with a smile. “We got lost!”
--Second-year H-back Chris Cooley says he lost about 20 pounds this offseason. The secret? He laid off the sour cream and onion chips.
--I forgot to put this in my Day 1 notes, but get a load of this one: After the morning practice on Monday, kicker John Hall walked off the field and was approached by several media members. Some writers asked about his recent injuries, and then a Washington-area television reporter blurted out, “Patrick, do you feel more comfortable this season now that your job’s secure?”
Hall, who doesn’t look much like Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey, handled it well. He held his No. 10 jersey into the air and pointed to the 10. Still, the television reporter didn’t get it, as he continued asking questions you’d ask a quarterback. Finally, Hall had to stop the madness.
“I’m not Patrick Ramsey,” he said. The reporter looked like he’d just swallowed his microphone.
--It was good too see James Thrash back at practice. The wide receiver missed the opening day of camp due to the death of his father. Thrash is one of the league’s true good guys.
--The defensive coaches got their players riled up for a game of “Get your cone” yesterday. It’s got a musical chairs feel to it, as six guys spring after four cones that are set up on a sideline. The first four players to grab cones are safe, while the other two get a round of brutal push-ups.
--Sure, Redskins assistant head coach Joe Bugel is in his mid-60s and doesn’t come up to the chins of most of the offensive linemen he teaches, but he’s not afraid to let these behemoths have it. During one drill Jon Alston, an undrafted free agent from South Carolina, was having trouble staying square to the line of scrimmage. Let’s just say Bugel let him know it.
--Here’s my I-can’t-believe-you-cheered-for-that moment of the day: Patrick Ramsey threw a 50-yard nonstop flight to a receiver in the end zone. The receiver was covered. The ball was dropped. One of the practice officials threw a flag for pass interference, and the crowd cheered the flag, and it wasn’t a sarcastic cheer. I don’t get it.
--Sean Taylor continues to undergo an image reversal. Yesterday the second-year safety signed more than 50 autographs after practice ended. And he gave kids top priority.
--About those kids. It seems like they’re a lot pushier than they used to be. One boy was bypassed for a signature by a player and proceeded to blurt, “Come on, I’m 8 years old!”
--Training camp just isn’t the same without the always-talking, never-balking Fred Smoot. The garrulous cornerback signed with the Minnesota Vikings during the offseason, and our ears miss him.
--That’s all for today. Don’t forget, Fan Appreciation Day is Friday at Redskins Park! CATCH ADAM HIMMELSBACH’S CAMP REPORT FROM DAY 3 TOMORROW MORNING ON FREDERICKSBURG.COM.
12:46 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3
ASHBURN--After Day 1 of Washington Redskins training camp, I wrote that the players and fans and media members were lucky that the weather was bearable. Scratch that. Day 2 was hot. By the time practice ended yesterday evening, most of the onlookers looked like they’d been pelted with water balloons. Anyway, here are a few tidbits and random thoughts I thought you might like to know about your ‘Skins:
--Running backs coach Ernest Byner just can’t make quick cuts like he did in his glory days in the burgundy and gold. Yesterday Byner was leading his group in a short jog toward a separate practice field when he nearly bulldozed an unknowing ballboy.
“My bad! My bad! My bad!” Byner yelled with a smile. “We got lost!”
--Second-year H-back Chris Cooley says he lost about 20 pounds this offseason. The secret? He laid off the sour cream and onion chips.
--I forgot to put this in my Day 1 notes, but get a load of this one: After the morning practice on Monday, kicker John Hall walked off the field and was approached by several media members. Some writers asked about his recent injuries, and then a Washington-area television reporter blurted out, “Patrick, do you feel more comfortable this season now that your job’s secure?”
Hall, who doesn’t look much like Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey, handled it well. He held his No. 10 jersey into the air and pointed to the 10. Still, the television reporter didn’t get it, as he continued asking questions you’d ask a quarterback. Finally, Hall had to stop the madness.
“I’m not Patrick Ramsey,” he said. The reporter looked like he’d just swallowed his microphone.
--It was good too see James Thrash back at practice. The wide receiver missed the opening day of camp due to the death of his father. Thrash is one of the league’s true good guys.
--The defensive coaches got their players riled up for a game of “Get your cone” yesterday. It’s got a musical chairs feel to it, as six guys spring after four cones that are set up on a sideline. The first four players to grab cones are safe, while the other two get a round of brutal push-ups.
--Sure, Redskins assistant head coach Joe Bugel is in his mid-60s and doesn’t come up to the chins of most of the offensive linemen he teaches, but he’s not afraid to let these behemoths have it. During one drill Jon Alston, an undrafted free agent from South Carolina, was having trouble staying square to the line of scrimmage. Let’s just say Bugel let him know it.
--Here’s my I-can’t-believe-you-cheered-for-that moment of the day: Patrick Ramsey threw a 50-yard nonstop flight to a receiver in the end zone. The receiver was covered. The ball was dropped. One of the practice officials threw a flag for pass interference, and the crowd cheered the flag, and it wasn’t a sarcastic cheer. I don’t get it.
--Sean Taylor continues to undergo an image reversal. Yesterday the second-year safety signed more than 50 autographs after practice ended. And he gave kids top priority.
--About those kids. It seems like they’re a lot pushier than they used to be. One boy was bypassed for a signature by a player and proceeded to blurt, “Come on, I’m 8 years old!”
--Training camp just isn’t the same without the always-talking, never-balking Fred Smoot. The garrulous cornerback signed with the Minnesota Vikings during the offseason, and our ears miss him.
--That’s all for today. Don’t forget, Fan Appreciation Day is Friday at Redskins Park! CATCH ADAM HIMMELSBACH’S CAMP REPORT FROM DAY 3 TOMORROW MORNING ON FREDERICKSBURG.COM.